Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program, 3387-3392 [2024-00151]
Download as PDF
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed information collection; ways
to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and ways to minimize the
burden of the information collection on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
comments received by March 18, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by docket number and title,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Department of Defense, Office of
the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and
Transparency, Regulatory Directorate,
4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24,
Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350–
1700.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name, docket
number and title for this Federal
Register document. The general policy
for comments and other submissions
from members of the public is to make
these submissions available for public
viewing on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov as they are
received without change, including any
personal identifiers or contact
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request more information on this
proposed information collection or to
obtain a copy of the proposal and
associated collection instruments,
please write to Boris Kun, OASD
Readiness (Force Education & Training),
4000 Defense Pentagon Room 1E537,
Washington DC 20301–4000. Borris
Kun, (619) 908–9581.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title; Associated Form; and OMB
Number: Climate Literacy Pulse Check;
OMB Control Number: 0704–CLPC.
Needs and Uses: Climate change is
one of many threat multipliers to
National Security, which adds
complexity to the decisions made by the
DoD. It is a priority of the DoD to ensure
that support to the department’s
missions takes climate considerations
into account, especially how the adverse
impacts of a changing climate can
complicate and impede DoD missions.
This pulse check is intended for DoD
personnel who provide various aspects
of support to the warfighter—whether in
OSD, Defense Agencies, the Joint Staff,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:32 Jan 17, 2024
Jkt 262001
combatant commands, and the
Services—to understand how climate
change affects their work and what
education, training, and resources they
require to continue executing their
mission in the context of a changing
climate.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Annual Burden Hours: 1,417.
Number of Respondents: 8,500.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 8,500.
Average Burden per Response: 10
minutes.
Frequency: Annually.
Dated: January 10, 2024.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2024–00905 Filed 1–17–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: DoD–2023–OS–0072]
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
Office of the Under Secretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness
(OUSD(P&R)), Department of Defense
(DoD).
ACTION: 30-Day information collection
notice.
AGENCY:
The DoD has submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for clearance the following
proposal for collection of information
under the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
comments received by February 20,
2024.
SUMMARY:
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lane Purvis, (571) 372–0460, whs.mcalex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-informationcollections@mail.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title; Associated Form; and OMB
Number: Memorandum of Agreement
Between Military Service and School
District to Establish and Operate a
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3387
Unit; DD Form 3202; OMB Control
Number: 0704–JRPF.
Type of request: New.
Number of Respondents: 6,694.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 1.
Average Burden per Response: 10
minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 1,116.
Needs and Uses: This information is
needed to confirm that school districts
understand and acknowledge their
responsibilities in hosting a Junior
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
(JROTC) program and understand DoD’s
expectations for the performance of
their duties and conduct in the
execution thereof.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Frequency: On occasion.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet
Seehra.
You may also submit comments and
recommendations, identified by Docket
ID number and title, by the following
method:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name, Docket
ID number, and title for this Federal
Register document. The general policy
for comments and other submissions
from members of the public is to make
these submissions available for public
viewing on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov as they are
received without change, including any
personal identifiers or contact
information.
DOD Clearance Officer: Mr. Lane
Purvis.
Requests for copies of the information
collection proposal should be sent to
Mr. Purvis at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dddod-information-collections@mail.mil.
Dated: January 10, 2024.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2024–00902 Filed 1–17–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad
Program
Office of Postsecondary
Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of Education
is issuing a notice inviting applications
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
3388
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices
for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the
Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad
(GPA) Program, Assistance Listing
Numbers 84.021A and 84.021B. This
notice relates to the approved
information collection under OMB
control number 1840–0792.
DATES:
Applications Available: January 18,
2024.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: March 18, 2024.
Pre-Application Webinar Information:
The Department will hold a preapplication webinar for prospective
applicants. Detailed information
regarding this webinar will be provided
on the GPA website at www2.ed.gov/
programs/iegpsgpa/.
Additionally, for prospective applicants
that have never received a grant from
the Department and those that are
interested in learning more about the
process, please review the grant funding
basics resource at www2.ed.gov/
documents/funding-101/funding-101basics.pdf.
For the addresses for
obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common
Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary
Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on December 7, 2022
(87 FR 75045) and available at
www.federalregister.gov/documents/
2022/12/07/2022-26554/commoninstructions-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionarygrant-programs. Please note that these
Common Instructions supersede the
version published on December 27,
2021.
ADDRESSES:
Cory
Neal, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20202. Telephone: (202) 704–3437.
Email: GPA@ed.gov.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or
have a speech disability and wish to
access telecommunications relay
services, please dial 7–1–1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Full Text of Announcement
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Fulbright-Hays GPA Program is to
promote, improve, and develop the
study of modern foreign languages and
area studies in the United States. The
program provides opportunities for
faculty, teachers, and undergraduate
and graduate students to conduct group
projects overseas. Projects may include
either (1) short-term seminars,
curriculum development, or group
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:32 Jan 17, 2024
Jkt 262001
research or study, or (2) long-term
advanced intensive language programs.
This competition invites applicants to
submit an application to request support
for either a Fulbright-Hays GPA shortterm project (GPA short-term project
84.021A) or a Fulbright-Hays GPA longterm project (GPA long-term project
84.021B). Applicants must clearly
indicate on the SF 424, the Application
for Federal Assistance cover sheet,
whether they are applying for a GPA
short-term project (84.021A) or a GPA
long-term project (84.021B). Additional
submission requirements are included
in the application package.
There are three types of GPA shortterm projects: (1) short-term seminar
projects of 4 to 6 weeks in length
designed by the applicant to help
participants integrate international
studies into the curriculum at an
institution of higher education (IHE) or
a school system when they return to the
United States, by focusing on a
particular aspect of area studies, such as
the culture of an area or country of
study (34 CFR 664.11); (2) curriculum
development projects of 4 to 8 weeks in
length that provide participants the
opportunity to acquire resource
materials for curriculum development
in modern foreign language and area
studies for use and dissemination in the
United States (34 CFR 664.12); and (3)
group research or study projects of 3 to
12 months in duration designed to give
participants the opportunity to
undertake research or study in a foreign
country (34 CFR 664.13).
GPA long-term projects are advanced
overseas intensive language programs
designed by the applicant that may be
carried out during a full year, an
academic year, a semester, a trimester,
a quarter, or a summer. GPA long-term
projects provide participants an
opportunity to use and strengthen their
advanced language training while
experiencing the culture in the foreign
country. Participants should have
successfully completed at least 2
academic years of training in the
language to be studied to be eligible to
participate in a GPA intensive advanced
language training program. In addition,
the language to be studied must be
indigenous to the host country and
maximum use must be made of local
institutions and personnel (34 CFR
664.14).
Priorities: This notice contains one
absolute priority and five competitive
preference priorities. In accordance with
34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute
priority is from the regulations for this
program (34 CFR 664.32). Competitive
Preference Priorities 1 and 2 are from
the notice of final priorities and
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
definitions published in the Federal
Register on June 16, 2016 (81 FR 39196)
(the 2016 NFP); Competitive Preference
Priority 3 is from the regulations for this
program (34 CFR 664.32); Competitive
Preference Priority 4 is from the notice
of final priorities published in the
Federal Register on September 24, 2010
(75 FR 59050) (the 2010 NFP); and
Competitive Preference Priority 5 is
from the regulations for this program (34
CFR 664.32).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2024, and
any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applications from this competition, this
priority is an absolute priority. Under 34
CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
This priority is: Specific Geographic
Regions of the World.
A group project that focuses on one or
more of the following geographic
regions of the world: Africa, East Asia,
South Asia, Southeast Asia and the
Pacific, the Western Hemisphere
(Central and South America, Mexico,
and the Caribbean), Eastern and Central
Europe and Eurasia, and the Near East.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For
FY 2024, there are five competitive
preference priorities. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i), we award 3 additional
points to an application that meets
Competitive Preference Priority 1; 2
additional points to an application that
meets Competitive Preference Priority 2;
2 additional points for short-term
projects or 4 additional points for longterm projects to an application that
meets Competitive Preference Priority 3;
2 additional points to an application
that meets Competitive Preference
Priority 4; and 2 additional points to an
application that meets Competitive
Preference Priority 5. Applicants for
GPA short-term projects may address
Competitive Preference Priorities 1, 3, 4,
and 5. Applicants for GPA long-term
projects may address Competitive
Preference Priorities 2 and 3. In the
application narrative, an applicant must
indicate the priority or priorities being
addressed, provide a substantive
description of how the proposed
activities support the applicant’s
selected priority or priorities, and
provide documentation supporting such
claims.
These priorities are: Competitive
Preference Priority 1—Applications for
GPA Short-Term Projects from Selected
Institutions and Organizations (3
Points).
Applications for GPA short-term
projects from the following types of
institutions and organizations:
• Minority-Serving Institutions
(MSIs) (as defined in this notice);
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices
• Community colleges (as defined in
this notice);
• New applicants (as defined in this
notice); or
• State educational agencies (SEAs)
(as defined in this notice).
Competitive Preference Priority 2—
Applications for GPA Long-Term
Projects from MSIs (2 Points).
Applications for GPA long-term
advanced overseas intensive language
training projects from MSIs.
Competitive Preference Priority 3—
Substantive Training and Thematic
Focus on Less Commonly Taught
Languages (2 Points for short-term
projects or 4 Points for long-term
projects).
Applications that propose GPA shortterm projects (2 points) or GPA longterm projects (4 points) that provide
substantive training and thematic focus
on any modern foreign language except
French, German, or Spanish.
Competitive Preference Priority 4—
Inclusion of K–12 Educators (2 Points).
Applications that propose short-term
projects abroad that develop and
improve foreign language studies, area
studies, or both at elementary and
secondary schools by including K–12
teachers or K–12 administrators as at
least 50 percent of the project
participants.
Competitive Preference Priority 5—
Thematic Focus on Academic Fields (2
Points).
Applications that propose short-term
projects abroad in modern foreign
languages and area studies with an
academic focus on any of the following
academic fields: science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, computer
science, education (comparative or
international), international
development, political science, public
health, or economics.
Definitions: The following definitions
are from the 2016 NFP and apply to this
competition.
Community college means an
institution that meets the definition in
section 312(f) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20
U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an IHE (as defined in
section 101 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001))
that awards degrees and certificates,
more than 50 percent of which are not
bachelor’s degrees (or an equivalent).
Minority-serving institution (MSI)
means an institution that is eligible to
receive assistance under sections 316
through 320 of part A of title III, under
part B of title III, or under title V of the
HEA.
New applicant means any applicant
that has not received a discretionary
grant from the Department of Education
under the Fulbright-Hays Act prior to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:32 Jan 17, 2024
Jkt 262001
the deadline date for applications under
this program.
State educational agency (SEA) means
the State board of education or other
agency or officer primarily responsible
for the supervision of public elementary
and secondary schools in a State. In the
absence of this officer or agency, it is an
officer or agency designated by the
Governor or State law.
Program Authority: 22 U.S.C.
2452(b)(6).
Note: Projects will be awarded and
must be operated in a manner consistent
with the nondiscrimination
requirements contained in Federal civil
rights laws.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR
parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and 86. (b) The
Office of Management and Budget
Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR
part 180, as adopted and amended as
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3485. (c) The Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for
Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as
adopted and amended as regulations of
the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d)
The regulations for this program in 34
CFR part 664. (e) The 2010 NFP. (f) The
2016 NFP.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part
86 apply to IHEs only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$10,311,000 for awards for the
Fulbright-Hays Overseas program for FY
2024, of which we intend to use an
estimated $5,159,494 for this
competition. The actual level of
funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough
time to complete the grant process if
Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in
future fiscal years from the list of
unfunded applications from this
competition.
Estimated Available Funds:
$5,159,494.
Estimated Range of Awards:
GPA short-term projects: $50,000–
$180,000.
GPA long-term projects: $50,000–
$300,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
GPA short-term projects: $132,474.
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3389
GPA long-term projects: $250,663.
Maximum Award: We will not make
a GPA short-term award exceeding
$180,000 for a single project period of
18 months. We will not make a GPA
long-term project award exceeding
$300,000 for a single budget period of
24 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 30.
GPA short-term projects: 20.
GPA long-term projects: 10.
Note: The Department is not bound by
any estimates in this notice.
Project Period:
GPA short-term projects: Up to 18
months.
GPA long-term projects: Up to 24
months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: (1) IHEs, (2)
SEAs, (3) private nonprofit educational
organizations, and (4) consortia of these
entities.
Eligible Participants: Citizens,
nationals, or permanent residents of the
United States, who are (1) faculty
members who teach modern foreign
languages or area studies at an IHE, (2)
teachers in elementary or secondary
schools, (3) experienced education
administrators responsible for planning,
conducting, or supervising programs in
modern foreign language or area studies
at the elementary, secondary, or
postsecondary levels, or (4) graduate
students, or juniors or seniors in an IHE,
who plan teaching careers in modern
foreign languages or area studies.
Note: If you are a nonprofit
organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you
may demonstrate your nonprofit status
by providing: (1) proof that the Internal
Revenue Service currently recognizes
the applicant as an organization to
which contributions are tax deductible
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a
State taxing body or the State attorney
general certifying that the organization
is a nonprofit organization operating
within the State and that no part of its
net earnings may lawfully benefit any
private shareholder or individual; (3) a
certified copy of the applicant’s
certificate of incorporation or similar
document if it clearly establishes the
nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4)
any item described above if that item
applies to a State or national parent
organization, together with a statement
by the State or parent organization that
the applicant is a local nonprofit
affiliate.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this
competition may not award subgrants to
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
3390
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
entities to directly carry out project
activities described in its application.
4. Build America, Buy America Act:
This program is not subject to the Build
America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117–
58) domestic sourcing requirements.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Application Submission
Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for
Applicants to Department of Education
Discretionary Grant Programs,
published in the Federal Register on
December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and
available at www.federalregister.gov/
documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/
common-instructions-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionarygrant-programs, which contain
requirements and information on how to
submit an application. Please note that
these Common Instructions supersede
the version published on December 27,
2021.
2. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79.
3. Funding Restrictions: We specify
unallowable costs in 34 CFR 664.33. We
reference additional regulations
outlining funding restrictions in the
Applicable Regulations section of this
notice.
4. Recommended Page Limit: The
application narrative is where you, the
applicant, address the selection criteria
that reviewers use to evaluate your
application. We recommend that you (1)
limit the application narrative to no
more than 40 pages and (2) use the
following standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Double-space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations,
references, and captions, as well as all
text in charts, tables, figures, and
graphs.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger, or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not
apply to the cover sheet or budget
section, including the narrative budget
justification; the assurance and
certifications; or the one-page abstract,
the resumes, the biography, or letters of
support. However, the recommended
page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:32 Jan 17, 2024
Jkt 262001
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this program are from 34 CFR
664.31 and are as follows:
(a) Plan of operation. (20 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each
application for information to determine
the quality of the plan of operation for
the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for
information that shows—
(i) High quality in the design of the
project;
(ii) An effective plan of management
that ensures proper and efficient
administration of the project;
(iii) A clear description of how the
objectives of the project relate to the
purpose of the program;
(iv) The way the applicant plans to
use its resources and personnel to
achieve each objective; and
(v) A clear description of how the
applicant will ensure that project
participants who are otherwise eligible
to participate are selected without
regard to race, color, national origin,
gender, age, or handicapping condition.
(b) Quality of key personnel. (10
points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each
application for information to determine
the quality of key personnel the
applicant plans to use on the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for
information that shows—
(i) The qualifications of the project
director;
(ii) The qualifications of each of the
other key personnel to be used in the
project;
(iii) The time that each person
referred to in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii)
of this section will commit to the
project; and
(iv) The extent to which the applicant,
as part of its nondiscriminatory
employment practices, will ensure that
its personnel are selected for
employment without regard to race,
color, national origin, gender, age, or
handicapping condition.
(3) To determine the qualifications of
a person, the Secretary considers
evidence of past experience and training
in fields related to the objectives of the
project as well as other information that
the applicant provides.
(c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10
points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each
application for information that shows
that the project has an adequate budget
and is cost effective.
(2) The Secretary looks for
information that shows—
(i) The budget for the project is
adequate to support the project
activities; and
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to
the objectives of the project.
(d) Evaluation plan. (20 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each
application for information that shows
the quality of the evaluation plan for the
project.
(2) The Secretary looks for
information that shows that the methods
of evaluation are appropriate for the
project and, to the extent possible, are
objective and produce data that are
quantifiable.
(e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each
application for information that shows
that the applicant plans to devote
adequate resources to the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for
information that shows that the
facilities, equipment, and supplies that
the applicant plans to use are adequate.
(f) Specific program criteria. (35
points)
(1) In addition to the general selection
criteria contained in this section, the
Secretary reviews each application for
information that shows that the project
meets the specific program criteria.
(2) The Secretary looks for
information that shows—
(i) The potential impact of the project
on the development of the study of
modern foreign languages and area
studies in American education. (15
points)
(ii) The project’s relevance to the
applicant’s educational goals and its
relationship to its program development
in modern foreign languages and area
studies. (10 points)
(iii) The extent to which direct
experience abroad is necessary to
achieve the project’s objectives and the
effectiveness with which relevant host
country resources will be utilized. (10
points)
2. Review and Selection Process: We
remind potential applicants that in
reviewing applications in any
discretionary grant competition, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR
75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the
applicant in carrying out a previous
award, such as the applicant’s use of
funds, achievement of project
objectives, and compliance with grant
conditions. The Secretary may also
consider whether the applicant failed to
submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable
quality.
In addition, in making a competitive
grant award, the Secretary requires
various assurances, including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices
assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
For FY 2024, proposed GPA shortterm projects will be reviewed by peer
review panels with expertise in the
world area that is the focus of the
application. All proposed GPA longterm projects will be reviewed by one
peer review panel. The International
and Foreign Language Education office
will prepare separate rank order slates
for GPA short-term projects and GPA
long-term projects recommended for
new awards in FY 2024. Each slate will
include the peer reviewers’ scores for all
applications evaluated, from the highest
score to the lowest score. In cases where
several applications have the same final
numerical score in the rank order
listing, and there are insufficient funds
to support all the applications, the
scores under selection criterion (f)(2)(iii)
will be used as a tiebreaker. If the scores
remain tied, then the scores under
selection criterion (f)(2)(i) will be used
to break the tie.
3. Risk Assessment and Specific
Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under
this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by
applicants. Under 2 CFR 200.208, the
Secretary may impose specific
conditions and, under 2 CFR 3474.10, in
appropriate circumstances, high-risk
conditions on a grant if the applicant or
grantee is not financially stable; has a
history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management
system that does not meet the standards
in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;
or is otherwise not responsible.
4. Integrity and Performance System:
If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that
over the course of the project period
may exceed the simplified acquisition
threshold (currently $250,000), under 2
CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a
judgment about your integrity, business
ethics, and record of performance under
Federal awards—that is, the risk posed
by you as an applicant—before we make
an award. In doing so, we must consider
any information about you that is in the
integrity and performance system
(currently referred to as the Federal
Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS)),
accessible through the System for
Award Management (SAM). You may
review and comment on any
information about yourself that a
Federal agency previously entered and
that is currently in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of
your currently active grants, cooperative
agreements, and procurement contracts
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:32 Jan 17, 2024
Jkt 262001
from the Federal Government exceeds
$10,000,000, the reporting requirements
in 2 CFR part 200, appendix XII, require
you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually.
Please review the requirements in 2 CFR
part 200, appendix XII, if this grant plus
all the other Federal funds you receive
exceed $10,000,000.
5. In General: In accordance with
Uniform Guidance located at 2 CFR part
200, all applicable Federal laws, and
relevant Executive guidance, the
Department will review and consider
applications for funding pursuant to this
notice inviting applications in
accordance with—
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to
be successful in delivering results based
on the program objectives through an
objective process of evaluating Federal
award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain
telecommunication and video
surveillance services or equipment in
alignment with section 889 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of
2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) (2 CFR 200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the
extent permitted by law, to maximize
use of goods, products, and materials
produced in the United States (2 CFR
200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole
or in part to the greatest extent
authorized by law if an award no longer
effectuates the program goals or agency
priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application
is successful, we notify your U.S.
Representative and U.S. Senators and
send you a Grant Award Notification
(GAN); or we may send you an email
containing a link to access an electronic
version of your GAN. We may notify
you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or
not selected for funding, we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy
requirements in the application package
and reference these and other
requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other
specific conditions in the GAN. The
GAN also incorporates your approved
application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Open Licensing Requirements:
Unless an exception applies, if you are
awarded a grant under this competition,
you will be required to openly license
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3391
to the public grant deliverables created
in whole, or in part, with Department
grant funds. When the deliverable
consists of modifications to pre-existing
works, the license extends only to those
modifications that can be separately
identified and only to the extent that
open licensing is permitted under the
terms of any licenses or other legal
restrictions on the use of pre-existing
works. Additionally, a grantee or
subgrantee that is awarded competitive
grant funds must have a plan to
disseminate these public grant
deliverables. This dissemination plan
can be developed and submitted after
your application has been reviewed and
selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing
requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
grant under this competition, you must
ensure that you have in place the
necessary processes and systems to
comply with the reporting requirements
in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive
funding under the competition. This
does not apply if you have an exception
under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period,
you must submit a final performance
report, including financial information,
as directed by the Secretary. If you
receive a multiyear award, you must
submit an annual performance report
that provides the most current
performance and financial expenditure
information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR
75.720(c). For specific requirements on
reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/appforms/
appforms.html.
5. Performance Measures: For the
purposes of Department reporting under
34 CFR 75.110, the following measure
will be used by the Department to
evaluate the success of the GPA shortterm program: the percentage of GPA
short-term project participants who
disseminated information about or
materials from their group project
abroad through more than one outreach
activity within 6 months of returning to
their home institution. The following
measure will be used by the Department
to evaluate the success of the GPA longterm program: the percentage of GPA
long-term project participants who
increased their reading, writing, and/or
listening/speaking foreign language
scores by one proficiency level. The
efficiency of the GPA long-term program
will be measured by considering the
cost per GPA participant who increased
his/her foreign language score in
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
3392
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Notices
reading, writing, and/or listening/
speaking by at least one proficiency
level.
The information provided by grantees
in their performance reports submitted
via the International Resource
Information System (IRIS) will be the
source of data for this measure.
Reporting screens for institutions can be
viewed at: https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/
gpa_director.pdf and https://iris.ed.gov/
iris/pdfs/gpa_participant.pdf.
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the
program contact person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT,
individuals with disabilities can obtain
this document and a copy of the
application package in an accessible
format. The Department will provide the
requestor with an accessible format that
may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or
text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3
file, braille, large print, audiotape, or
compact disc, or other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. You may access the official
edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations at
www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can
view this document, as well as all other
documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Portable Document Format
(PDF). To use PDF you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education.
[FR Doc. 2024–00151 Filed 1–17–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
[Docket No.: ED–2024–SCC–0013]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
National Assessment of Educational
Progress (NAEP) 2024 Amendment #4
National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES), Department of
Education (ED).
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:32 Jan 17, 2024
Jkt 262001
ACTION:
Notice.
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, the Department is proposing a
revision of a currently approved
information collection request (ICR).
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before February
20, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should
be submitted within 30 days of
publication of this notice. Click on this
link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain to access the site. Find this
information collection request (ICR) by
selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’
under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then
check the ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public
Comment’’ checkbox. Reginfo.gov
provides two links to view documents
related to this information collection
request. Information collection forms
and instructions may be found by
clicking on the ‘‘View Information
Collection (IC) List’’ link. Supporting
statements and other supporting
documentation may be found by
clicking on the ‘‘View Supporting
Statement and Other Documents’’ link.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Carrie Clarady,
(202) 245–6347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: National
Assessment of Educational Progress
(NAEP) 2024 Amendment #4.
OMB Control Number: 1850–0928.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved ICR.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals or households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 860,132.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 474,255.
Abstract: The National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP),
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
conducted by the National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES), is a
federally authorized survey of student
achievement at grades 4, 8, and 12 in
various subject areas, such as
mathematics, reading, writing, science,
U.S. history, civics, geography,
economics, technology and engineering
literacy (TEL), and the arts. The
National Assessment of Educational
Progress Authorization Act (Pub. L.
107–279, title III, section 303) requires
the assessment to collect data on
specified student groups and
characteristics, including information
organized by race/ethnicity, gender,
socio-economic status, disability, and
limited English proficiency. It requires
fair and accurate presentation of
achievement data and permits the
collection of background, noncognitive,
or descriptive information that is related
to academic achievement and aids in
fair reporting of results. The intent of
the law is to provide representative
sample data on student achievement for
the nation, the states, and
subpopulations of students and to
monitor progress over time. NAEP
consists of two assessment programs:
the NAEP long-term trend (LTT)
assessment and the main NAEP
assessment. The LTT assessments are
given at the national level only and are
administered to students at ages 9, 13,
and 17 in a manner that is very different
from that used for the main NAEP
assessments. LTT reports mathematics
and reading results that present trend
data since the 1970s. In addition to the
operational assessments, NAEP uses two
other kinds of assessment activities:
pilot assessments and special studies.
Pilot assessments test items and
procedures for future administrations of
NAEP, while special studies (including
the National Indian Education Study
(NIES), the Middle School Transcript
Study (MSTS), and the High School
Transcript Study (HSTS)) are
opportunities for NAEP to investigate
particular aspects of the assessment
without impacting the reporting of the
NAEP results.
The initial request for clearance of
NAEP 2024 received OMB approval in
April 2023 (OMB #1850–0928 v.28).
Amendment #1 to the NAEP 2024
clearance package received OMB
approval in June 2023 (OMB #1850–
0928 v.29), Amendment #2 was
approved in August 2023, and
Amendment #3 was approved in
November 2023. Since November 2023,
NCES made the decision to make
adjustments to the school-based
equipment survey and increased the
estimated burden from 5 minutes to 10
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3387-3392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00151]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad
Program
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting
applications
[[Page 3388]]
for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad
(GPA) Program, Assistance Listing Numbers 84.021A and 84.021B. This
notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control
number 1840-0792.
DATES:
Applications Available: January 18, 2024.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 18, 2024.
Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a
pre-application webinar for prospective applicants. Detailed
information regarding this webinar will be provided on the GPA website
at www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsgpa/. Additionally, for
prospective applicants that have never received a grant from the
Department and those that are interested in learning more about the
process, please review the grant funding basics resource at
www2.ed.gov/documents/funding-101/funding-101-basics.pdf.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede
the version published on December 27, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cory Neal, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:
(202) 704-3437. Email: [email protected].
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Fulbright-Hays GPA Program
is to promote, improve, and develop the study of modern foreign
languages and area studies in the United States. The program provides
opportunities for faculty, teachers, and undergraduate and graduate
students to conduct group projects overseas. Projects may include
either (1) short-term seminars, curriculum development, or group
research or study, or (2) long-term advanced intensive language
programs.
This competition invites applicants to submit an application to
request support for either a Fulbright-Hays GPA short-term project (GPA
short-term project 84.021A) or a Fulbright-Hays GPA long-term project
(GPA long-term project 84.021B). Applicants must clearly indicate on
the SF 424, the Application for Federal Assistance cover sheet, whether
they are applying for a GPA short-term project (84.021A) or a GPA long-
term project (84.021B). Additional submission requirements are included
in the application package.
There are three types of GPA short-term projects: (1) short-term
seminar projects of 4 to 6 weeks in length designed by the applicant to
help participants integrate international studies into the curriculum
at an institution of higher education (IHE) or a school system when
they return to the United States, by focusing on a particular aspect of
area studies, such as the culture of an area or country of study (34
CFR 664.11); (2) curriculum development projects of 4 to 8 weeks in
length that provide participants the opportunity to acquire resource
materials for curriculum development in modern foreign language and
area studies for use and dissemination in the United States (34 CFR
664.12); and (3) group research or study projects of 3 to 12 months in
duration designed to give participants the opportunity to undertake
research or study in a foreign country (34 CFR 664.13).
GPA long-term projects are advanced overseas intensive language
programs designed by the applicant that may be carried out during a
full year, an academic year, a semester, a trimester, a quarter, or a
summer. GPA long-term projects provide participants an opportunity to
use and strengthen their advanced language training while experiencing
the culture in the foreign country. Participants should have
successfully completed at least 2 academic years of training in the
language to be studied to be eligible to participate in a GPA intensive
advanced language training program. In addition, the language to be
studied must be indigenous to the host country and maximum use must be
made of local institutions and personnel (34 CFR 664.14).
Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and five
competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from the regulations for
this program (34 CFR 664.32). Competitive Preference Priorities 1 and 2
are from the notice of final priorities and definitions published in
the Federal Register on June 16, 2016 (81 FR 39196) (the 2016 NFP);
Competitive Preference Priority 3 is from the regulations for this
program (34 CFR 664.32); Competitive Preference Priority 4 is from the
notice of final priorities published in the Federal Register on
September 24, 2010 (75 FR 59050) (the 2010 NFP); and Competitive
Preference Priority 5 is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR
664.32).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2024, and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is: Specific Geographic Regions of the World.
A group project that focuses on one or more of the following
geographic regions of the world: Africa, East Asia, South Asia,
Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the Western Hemisphere (Central and
South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean), Eastern and Central Europe
and Eurasia, and the Near East.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2024, there are five
competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we
award 3 additional points to an application that meets Competitive
Preference Priority 1; 2 additional points to an application that meets
Competitive Preference Priority 2; 2 additional points for short-term
projects or 4 additional points for long-term projects to an
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 3; 2 additional
points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 4;
and 2 additional points to an application that meets Competitive
Preference Priority 5. Applicants for GPA short-term projects may
address Competitive Preference Priorities 1, 3, 4, and 5. Applicants
for GPA long-term projects may address Competitive Preference
Priorities 2 and 3. In the application narrative, an applicant must
indicate the priority or priorities being addressed, provide a
substantive description of how the proposed activities support the
applicant's selected priority or priorities, and provide documentation
supporting such claims.
These priorities are: Competitive Preference Priority 1--
Applications for GPA Short-Term Projects from Selected Institutions and
Organizations (3 Points).
Applications for GPA short-term projects from the following types
of institutions and organizations:
Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) (as defined in this
notice);
[[Page 3389]]
Community colleges (as defined in this notice);
New applicants (as defined in this notice); or
State educational agencies (SEAs) (as defined in this
notice).
Competitive Preference Priority 2--Applications for GPA Long-Term
Projects from MSIs (2 Points).
Applications for GPA long-term advanced overseas intensive language
training projects from MSIs.
Competitive Preference Priority 3--Substantive Training and
Thematic Focus on Less Commonly Taught Languages (2 Points for short-
term projects or 4 Points for long-term projects).
Applications that propose GPA short-term projects (2 points) or GPA
long-term projects (4 points) that provide substantive training and
thematic focus on any modern foreign language except French, German, or
Spanish.
Competitive Preference Priority 4--Inclusion of K-12 Educators (2
Points).
Applications that propose short-term projects abroad that develop
and improve foreign language studies, area studies, or both at
elementary and secondary schools by including K-12 teachers or K-12
administrators as at least 50 percent of the project participants.
Competitive Preference Priority 5--Thematic Focus on Academic
Fields (2 Points).
Applications that propose short-term projects abroad in modern
foreign languages and area studies with an academic focus on any of the
following academic fields: science, technology, engineering,
mathematics, computer science, education (comparative or
international), international development, political science, public
health, or economics.
Definitions: The following definitions are from the 2016 NFP and
apply to this competition.
Community college means an institution that meets the definition in
section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)
(20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an IHE (as defined in section 101 of the HEA
(20 U.S.C. 1001)) that awards degrees and certificates, more than 50
percent of which are not bachelor's degrees (or an equivalent).
Minority-serving institution (MSI) means an institution that is
eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A
of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.
New applicant means any applicant that has not received a
discretionary grant from the Department of Education under the
Fulbright-Hays Act prior to the deadline date for applications under
this program.
State educational agency (SEA) means the State board of education
or other agency or officer primarily responsible for the supervision of
public elementary and secondary schools in a State. In the absence of
this officer or agency, it is an officer or agency designated by the
Governor or State law.
Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).
Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal
civil rights laws.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, and 86. (b)
The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 664. (e)
The 2010 NFP. (f) The 2016 NFP.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$10,311,000 for awards for the Fulbright-Hays Overseas program for FY
2024, of which we intend to use an estimated $5,159,494 for this
competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow
enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates
funds for this program.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in future fiscal years from
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Available Funds: $5,159,494.
Estimated Range of Awards:
GPA short-term projects: $50,000-$180,000.
GPA long-term projects: $50,000-$300,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
GPA short-term projects: $132,474.
GPA long-term projects: $250,663.
Maximum Award: We will not make a GPA short-term award exceeding
$180,000 for a single project period of 18 months. We will not make a
GPA long-term project award exceeding $300,000 for a single budget
period of 24 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 30.
GPA short-term projects: 20.
GPA long-term projects: 10.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period:
GPA short-term projects: Up to 18 months.
GPA long-term projects: Up to 24 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: (1) IHEs, (2) SEAs, (3) private nonprofit
educational organizations, and (4) consortia of these entities.
Eligible Participants: Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents
of the United States, who are (1) faculty members who teach modern
foreign languages or area studies at an IHE, (2) teachers in elementary
or secondary schools, (3) experienced education administrators
responsible for planning, conducting, or supervising programs in modern
foreign language or area studies at the elementary, secondary, or
postsecondary levels, or (4) graduate students, or juniors or seniors
in an IHE, who plan teaching careers in modern foreign languages or
area studies.
Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you
may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the
Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an
organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State
taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the
organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and
that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private
shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's
certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly
establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item
described above if that item applies to a State or national parent
organization, together with a statement by the State or parent
organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to
[[Page 3390]]
entities to directly carry out project activities described in its
application.
4. Build America, Buy America Act: This program is not subject to
the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58) domestic sourcing
requirements.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal
Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to
submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions
supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.
2. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
3. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR
664.33. We reference additional regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you,
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the
application narrative to no more than 40 pages and (2) use the
following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet or
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the
assurance and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes,
the biography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page
limit does apply to all of the application narrative.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 664.31 and are as follows:
(a) Plan of operation. (20 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information to
determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
(i) High quality in the design of the project;
(ii) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and
efficient administration of the project;
(iii) A clear description of how the objectives of the project
relate to the purpose of the program;
(iv) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel
to achieve each objective; and
(v) A clear description of how the applicant will ensure that
project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are
selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age,
or handicapping condition.
(b) Quality of key personnel. (10 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information to
determine the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on
the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
(i) The qualifications of the project director;
(ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be
used in the project;
(iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2)(i)
and (ii) of this section will commit to the project; and
(iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its
nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel
are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition.
(3) To determine the qualifications of a person, the Secretary
considers evidence of past experience and training in fields related to
the objectives of the project as well as other information that the
applicant provides.
(c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that
shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
(i) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project
activities; and
(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the
project.
(d) Evaluation plan. (20 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that
shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the methods
of evaluation are appropriate for the project and, to the extent
possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.
(e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)
(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that
shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the
project.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the
facilities, equipment, and supplies that the applicant plans to use are
adequate.
(f) Specific program criteria. (35 points)
(1) In addition to the general selection criteria contained in this
section, the Secretary reviews each application for information that
shows that the project meets the specific program criteria.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows--
(i) The potential impact of the project on the development of the
study of modern foreign languages and area studies in American
education. (15 points)
(ii) The project's relevance to the applicant's educational goals
and its relationship to its program development in modern foreign
languages and area studies. (10 points)
(iii) The extent to which direct experience abroad is necessary to
achieve the project's objectives and the effectiveness with which
relevant host country resources will be utilized. (10 points)
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial
[[Page 3391]]
assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and
110.23).
For FY 2024, proposed GPA short-term projects will be reviewed by
peer review panels with expertise in the world area that is the focus
of the application. All proposed GPA long-term projects will be
reviewed by one peer review panel. The International and Foreign
Language Education office will prepare separate rank order slates for
GPA short-term projects and GPA long-term projects recommended for new
awards in FY 2024. Each slate will include the peer reviewers' scores
for all applications evaluated, from the highest score to the lowest
score. In cases where several applications have the same final
numerical score in the rank order listing, and there are insufficient
funds to support all the applications, the scores under selection
criterion (f)(2)(iii) will be used as a tiebreaker. If the scores
remain tied, then the scores under selection criterion (f)(2)(i) will
be used to break the tie.
3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR
3474.10, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant
if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not
responsible.
4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System
(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management (SAM).
You may review and comment on any information about yourself that a
Federal agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of your currently active
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2
CFR part 200, appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2
CFR part 200, appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
5. In General: In accordance with Uniform Guidance located at 2 CFR
part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance,
the Department will review and consider applications for funding
pursuant to this notice inviting applications in accordance with--
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR
200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works.
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables.
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
5. Performance Measures: For the purposes of Department reporting
under 34 CFR 75.110, the following measure will be used by the
Department to evaluate the success of the GPA short-term program: the
percentage of GPA short-term project participants who disseminated
information about or materials from their group project abroad through
more than one outreach activity within 6 months of returning to their
home institution. The following measure will be used by the Department
to evaluate the success of the GPA long-term program: the percentage of
GPA long-term project participants who increased their reading,
writing, and/or listening/speaking foreign language scores by one
proficiency level. The efficiency of the GPA long-term program will be
measured by considering the cost per GPA participant who increased his/
her foreign language score in
[[Page 3392]]
reading, writing, and/or listening/speaking by at least one proficiency
level.
The information provided by grantees in their performance reports
submitted via the International Resource Information System (IRIS) will
be the source of data for this measure. Reporting screens for
institutions can be viewed at: https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/gpa_director.pdf and https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/gpa_participant.pdf.
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-00151 Filed 1-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P